Digimon Survive | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Hyde [lower-alpha 1] |
Publisher(s) | Bandai Namco Entertainment |
Director(s) | Yusuke Shimada |
Producer(s) | Kazumasa Habu |
Artist(s) | Ukumo Uiti |
Composer(s) | Tomoki Miyoshi |
Series | Digimon |
Engine | Unity [lower-alpha 2] |
Platform(s) | |
Release | Nintendo Switch, PS4
|
Genre(s) | Visual novel, tactical role-playing |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Digimon Survive [lower-alpha 3] is a visual novel with tactical role-playing game elements [1] developed by Hyde and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One.
Announced in 2018, the game was originally developed on a much smaller budget compared to previous Digimon games. However, as development progressed, producer Kazumasa Habu realized that their original budget and smaller studio was inadequate to achieve his vision, resulting in the game being re-developed from scratch and switched to a different game engine. [2] This, along with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in the game being delayed from a previously announced 2019 release date. [3]
The game was released in Japan on July 28, 2022, for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch then released Windows and Xbox One on the following day alongside worldwide in other territories. The game received mixed reviews from critics and fans. [4]
Digimon Survive is a visual novel with tactical role-playing elements. [5] [6] Player choices influence the direction of the story, including the Digimon's evolution process. Multiple playthroughs can result in different paths and different digivolutions. [7] The game features multiple endings and should wrong choices be made, characters will be killed. [8] The game is split into multiple types of gameplay, such as "Drama Parts", "Search Action", "Free Action", and "Free Battle". During "Drama Parts" the game proceeds as a text adventure to tell the story. In "Search Actions", the player searches for a way to survive. In "Free Action", the player chooses where to go and whom to talk during a limited window of time. During "Free Battle", the player can enter certain areas to train their Digimon and collect items. [9]
Takuma Momozuka, Minoru Hinata, Aoi Shibuya, Saki Kimishima, Ryo Tominaga, Shuuji Kayama, Kaito Shinonome, Miu Shinonome, and others are on a historical studies extracurricular activities camp during spring break. On the second day Takuma, Minoru and Aoi visit a famous local temple to investigate the legend of the "Beast Gods" (Kemonogami) where a festival to celebrate them will take place. As they explore, they come across Koromon, then hear screaming. Koromon and the group run to the source and find their classmates being attacked by other Digimon. Koromon digivolves to Agumon and scares the Digimon away. It is at this point, that Takuma and the others discover they are in another world.
Digimon Survive was first announced in a July 2018 issue of the Japanese magazine V Jump for release on the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch consoles. [10] The western version was announced by Bandai Namco on YouTube through a trailer, with Xbox One and Steam being included in the platforms. [11] On July 6, 2019, the game was delayed to 2020. [12] On July 29, 2020, Toei Animation Europe stated Survive will release in Europe in January 2021; [13] however, this was removed from their website on August 4. The official cinematic opening trailer for Digimon Survive was published on July 22, 2019. [14] On October 8, 2020, game producer Kazumasa Habu stated on Twitter it was delayed again as the game system for Survive was being reviewed and they had to redo their schedule from scratch. [15] On October 15, it was officially announced that the release date of the game was delayed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic [3] as well as having changed the game's engine during Q2 2020, meaning they needed more time to work on the game. [16] Bandai Namco promised an update on the game's status in Q2 2021. [3] However this update never came, and there was no mention about the development of Digimon Survive during the E3 2021 as well. [17] On July 28, 2021, Toei Animation stated the game would release either in the fiscal Q3 2022 or "beyond". [18] [19] Fiscal year 2022 ended on March 31, 2022 [19] which meant they expected Digimon Survive to release either between October and December 2021 (Fiscal Q3 2022) or some time after that. On October 28, 2021, however, Bandai Namco announced that the game was officially delayed to 2022 and apologized for not providing an update earlier like they'd promised. [20]
At Digimon Con, on February 27, 2022, it was confirmed that the developers had been changed at some point from Witchcraft. The official Digimon Survive website then changed the developers listed on the website to Hyde. [21] On April 18, 2022, the game's Japanese release date was finally revealed as July 28, 2022. [22] Two days later, the localized release date was announced as July 29. [23]
In July 2022, shortly before the release of the game, Habu stated that they had changed the development studio as his original intention was to create the game with a small team on an indie game budget, rather than the budget a Digimon game would usually get, but as the project went on he realized this wasn't possible and had to switch to a bigger studio with a bigger budget to be able to achieve his vision for the game. He also stated he was lucky that the smaller studio (Witchcraft) hadn't used much budget as it allowed him to convince Bandai's stakeholders not to cancel the game.[ citation needed ] As Witchcraft were using a custom made engine that Hyde could not access, development of the game had to be restarted from scratch which caused the game's development time to double from two years to four years, with development switching from the custom engine to Unity. [2]
Habu also stated that he used his prior work on the Summon Night franchise as inspiration for the game, as well as taking inspiration from the Utawarerumono franchise[ citation needed ].
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
Metacritic | NS: 77/100 [24] PC: 83/100 [25] PS4: 70/100 [26] XONE: 70/100 [27] |
Publication | Score |
---|---|
Famitsu | 32/40 [28] |
Game Informer | 7.25/10 [29] |
GameSpot | 6/10 [30] |
Hardcore Gamer | 3.5/5 [31] |
IGN | 6/10 [32] |
Nintendo Life | [33] |
Nintendo World Report | 8/10 [34] |
Push Square | [35] |
RPGamer | 3.0/5 [36] |
Digimon Survive received "mixed or average" reviews for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One according to review aggregator Metacritic; [26] [27] the Windows and Nintendo Switch versions received "generally favorable" reviews. [25] [24] Trent Cannon of Nintendo Life gave the title 8 stars out of 10 and cited its dark themes and character dynamics as its major strengths, writing, "Digimon Survive is one of the best visual novels to come out so far this year, with plenty of heart and tension to carry you through to the final act." Push Square 's Robert Ramsey felt that the character dynamics, intricate artwork, and intriguing story as its highlights but felt that its point-and-click-based exploration sections were "slow, but bearable at best — frustratingly tedious at worst" and felt that its combat was "stunted", writing, "It never branches out from the basics, with digivolution being the only aspect that adds genuine spice to proceedings." Kotaku felt that the game was paced poorly, criticizing its bland character archetypes, inconsistent character dynamics, pedantic decision making, and its heavy emphasis on visual novel-based gameplay, writing, "Playing Digimon Survive felt like reading over the shoulder of someone who's taking too long to turn the page." [37] Reviewers of Japanese Famitsu magazine granted the game a 32 out of 40 total score based on individual reviews of 8, 8, 9, and 7. [28] NookGaming listed Digimon Survive in third place on its Top Visual Novels Of 2022 list. [38]
In Japan, Digimon Survive opened below its predecessors' sales with 28,536 retail copies sold for the Nintendo Switch and 7,757 retail copies sold for the PlayStation 4 version, the second and twelfth best-selling retail game, respectively, during its first week of release. [39] [40] In two weeks, the game sold 35,480 copies for the Switch. [41]
In the United States, Digimon Survive had a strong opening as the eighth best seller in 48 hours. [42] In the United Kingdom, the game debuted at tenth on the overall best-selling physical chart. [43] In Australia, the game started 3rd in digital and physical sales for its first week [44] and 7th in New Zealand. [45]
In Spain, the game debuted at fourth with 4,000 copies sold (75% on Nintendo Switch). [46] In Germany, Digimon Survive on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch debuted at third and fourth in the physical sales charts for the respective consoles. [47] In France, the game released exclusively in digital [48] became the eleventh best-selling game on the Nintendo eShop [49] and the fourteenth on Steam during its first week of release. [50]
At its launch, Digimon Survive was the best-selling game globally on Steam, ahead of the videogame Stray; [51] [52] the third in 48 hours [53] and the tenth best-seller during its first week of release, [54] the game leaves the chart the following week. [55] Digimon Survive was 15th on the European Nintendo eShop chart for July. [56]
As of December 2, 2022, the game has sold over 500,000 units worldwide. [57] [58] This comes following multiple discounts in November 2022 that dropped its price. [58]
The Tales series is a franchise of fantasy role-playing video games published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, and developed by its subsidiary, Namco Tales Studio until 2011 and presently by Bandai Namco Studios. First begun in 1995 with the development and release of Tales of Phantasia for the Super Famicom, the series currently spans seventeen main titles, multiple spin-off games and supplementary media in the form of manga series, anime series, and audio dramas.
Monolith Software Inc., trading as Monolith Soft, is a Japanese video game development studio originally owned by Namco until being bought out by Nintendo in 2007, best known for the Xenoblade Chronicles series of games. The company was founded in 1999 by Tetsuya Takahashi with the support and cooperation of Masaya Nakamura, the founder of Namco. Their first project was the Xenosaga series, a spiritual successor to the Square-developed Xenogears. Multiple Square staff would join Takahashi at Monolith Soft including Hirohide Sugiura and Yasuyuki Honne.
CyberConnect2 Co., Ltd. is a Japanese video game development studio mostly known for its work on the .hack series, along with a series of fighting games based on the Naruto franchise. They are also known for creating the Little Tail Bronx series. In 2016, they expanded their workforce into the international market by opening a studio in Montreal, Canada; however, the studio ceased operations in July 2023 after seven years of service.
Digimon World Re:Digitize is a 2012 video game for the PlayStation Portable developed by tri-Crescendo and published by Bandai Namco Games on July 19, 2012. The fifth entry in the Digimon World series, itself part of the Digimon franchise, the game features a return to the gameplay mechanics introduced in the original game. An enhanced port was released for the Nintendo 3DS on June 27, 2013 under the title Digimon World Re:Digitize Decode.
Bandai Namco Studios Inc. is a Japanese video game developer headquartered in Kōtō, Tokyo. Its offices in Malaysia and Singapore, Bandai Namco Studios Malaysia and Bandai Namco Studios Singapore, are based out of Selangor, Malaysia and Infinite Studios, Singapore respectively. Bandai Namco Studios is a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Entertainment, which itself is a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings. The company works under its parent company as a keiretsu; Bandai Namco Studios creates video games for home consoles, handheld systems, mobile devices and arcade hardware, while Bandai Namco Entertainment handles the managing, marketing and publishing of these products.
Digimon All-Star Rumble is a fighting video game developed by Prope and published by Bandai Namco Games for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles. The game is part of the Digimon franchise and features characters from across its several iterations. It was released in November 2014 in North America, Europe and Australia.
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth is a role-playing video game developed by Media.Vision and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment that was released in Japan on March 12, 2015 for PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 4. Part of the Digimon franchise, the game is the fifth installment in the Digimon Story series, following 2011's Super Xros Wars, and the first to be released on home consoles. The game would be released in North America on February 2, 2016, becoming the first installment of the Digimon Story series to be released in North America since 2007's Digimon World Dawn and Dusk, and the first to be released under its original title.
Yūsuke Kozaki is a Japanese manga artist and character designer.
Digimon World: Next Order is a role-playing video game in the Digimon franchise and the sixth game in the Digimon World series. The game is developed by B.B. Studio and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game was released for PlayStation Vita in Japan on March 17, 2016. The game would later release for PlayStation 4 in North America and PAL regions in January 2017, and in Japan on February 26, 2017 as Digimon World: Next Order International Edition. Nintendo Switch and Microsoft Windows versions were released on February 22, 2023.
Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization is a video game developed by Aquria and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Windows PC, based on the Japanese light novel series, Sword Art Online. It is the fourth video game in the series and the successor to Sword Art Online: Lost Song. Hollow Realization was released on October 27, 2016, in Japan, and on November 8, 2016, for North American and European territories. A Nintendo Switch version of the game was released on April 25, 2019, in Japan, and worldwide on May 24, 2019.
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker's Memory is a role-playing video game developed by Media.Vision and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. It is the follow-up to 2015's Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth, part of the Digimon Story series, and based on the larger Digimon franchise. The game shares elements and locations from its predecessor, while featuring a new story set during its events.
My Hero One's Justice, known in Japan as My Hero Academia: One's Justice, is a 2018 fighting game developed by Byking and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. The game is based on the manga series My Hero Academia by Kōhei Horikoshi.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is an action role-playing game developed by CyberConnect2 and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, based on the Dragon Ball franchise. It was released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows in January 2020, Nintendo Switch in September 2021, Stadia in October 2021, PlayStation 5 in January 2023, and Xbox Series X/S in February 2023. The game follows the main protagonist Goku and the Z-Fighters throughout the events of the Dragon Ball Z anime, including anime-original storylines and moments.
In the video game industry, 2021 saw the release of many new titles. The numerous delays in software and hardware releases due to the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic heavily impacted development schedules, leading to several games being delayed into 2022 or even postponed indefinitely. Additionally, computer and console hardware were impacted by the combined effects of a semiconductor shortage and a rising growth of bitcoin mining that strained the supply of critical components.
In the video game industry, 2022 saw the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry, slowing hardware sales for most of the year as well as development delays for major titles. The industry continued its trend of acquisitions and mergers, highlighted by Microsoft announcing its plan to acquire Activision Blizzard for nearly $69 billion. The industry as a whole continued to deal with issues such as workplace harassment and discrimination, alongside crunch periods, leading to at least the quality assurance staff at three separate studios to vote to unionize.
Namcot Collection, also known as Namco Museum Archives, is a 2020 video game compilation published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Originally released in Japan for the Nintendo Switch, it was localized for international territories as two separate collections, Namco Museum Archives Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, for the Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Windows. Namcot Collection includes a wide array of video games published by Namco for the Family Computer and Nintendo Entertainment System, with save states, achievements, and homebrew ports of Pac-Man Championship Edition and Gaplus.
One Piece Odyssey is a 2023 role-playing video game developed by ILCA and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. A part of the One Piece franchise, it was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. It is also set to release for Nintendo Switch in July 2024.
Ace Angler: Nintendo Switch Version, released in Japan as Fishing Spirits: Nintendo Switch Version, is a 2019 fishing video game published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game was released for the Nintendo Switch.
Though Digimon Survive received mixed reviews from critics and fans
the sudden disappearance of Digimon Survive might worry its makers, since Bandai Namco's visual novel was released at the end of July, less than a month ago.